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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand how people manage to make such a meal out of Christmas?

193 replies

BlueBananas · 21/12/2015 11:42

All you hear this time of year is 'oh I haven't got the potatoes peeled yet' 'I haven't cleaned the windows' 'I haven't hoovered the roof' type moans
Am I the only one that just doesn't get it?

I love Christmas, it's a huge thing in our family it really is, but it takes a couple of hours to cook a meal and why exactly are you all cleaning like mad people? I get that if you have guests then you clean yes, but only normal amounts of cleaning, why do people have to bleach all of their silverware and clean out cupboards? Why? Will Santa not come otherwise? And surely it's only clean for about 15 seconds until all the presents have been opened/chocolate eaten/guests descend? Then it looks like you never bothered, so why bother?

I'm starting to see that our Christmases are so lovely and relaxed and happy and I'm so glad

AIBU to think that everybody just needs to calm down a little bit?

OP posts:
Sighing · 21/12/2015 11:44

Because deep cleaning needs doing a few times thtough a year - so run with the motivation?

AttitcusFinchIsMyFather · 21/12/2015 11:44

I haven't seen any posts like that. Fairly relaxed here, I'm not a stesser anyway.

DisappointedOne · 21/12/2015 11:45

Yup. We don't do any of that shit.

MrsJayy · 21/12/2015 11:47

Well not everybody some people do get into such a tizz about it it exhausts me reading some posts on here, my mums a nightmare up all night cleaning caught her bleaching her skirting boards one year Shock by the time we all land on her christmas day its a tip

PuppyMonkey · 21/12/2015 11:48

I had 14 for dinner last year and most staying over. So yes to my great shame I got a bit stressed out. If only I could be more like you. You're fantastic.

MammaTJ · 21/12/2015 11:59

I need motivation to clean and tidy, so yes, Christmas is used as that!

I am not expecting you to come and do it OP, so you can stay as relaxed as you like! Grin

EponasWildDaughter · 21/12/2015 12:00

YANBU, but earlier this morning i had to have a word with myself when i caught myself starting to stress about the fact that i may not get round to changing our bedding again before xmas day! (last changed friday just gone)

As if our xmas guests might just suddenly all pile into our bed on the day and moan about the sheets Grin

Things can feel as if they're piling up a bit. I do have a list of things to do that i wouldn't normally have to do this week on top of the usual housework. It includes things like climbing up to the top cupboard and finding all the xmas table stuff, checking if any of it needs a wash, brush up, etc, moving some bits of furniture out of the living room to make space, going in the loft for the spare chairs, going out for the ordered meat and short life xmas foods, couple of last min presents to wrap and a couple more cards to post, sorting out DD4s toys ready for the influx of new stuff on xmas day.

Cant face any of the above to be honest, as i seem to be coming down with the flu and it all keeps getting put off :( shouldn't be MNing either

cheapandcheerful · 21/12/2015 12:01

We have 15 people round here for Sunday lunch most weeks so Christmas is not much more of a stretch :)

HeadDreamer · 21/12/2015 12:03

It depends who are you hosting, and what's your standards of cleaning is?

I'm only having MIL and she's getting a curry. Like a normal sunday when she's over. We are not doing more cleaning. So obviously I'm not that stressed. But I can understand it if I have to host 10+ people with some staying overnight.

notafanofwinter · 21/12/2015 12:03

I once heard Anthea Turner Grin describe it as 'Sunday lunch with a cracker'. Add a few presents and I'd agree.

vvviola · 21/12/2015 12:03

If the house is clean for Christmas Day, then it stays relatively clean for a while and I don't have to spend my precious few days off cleaning bathrooms etc (which would inevitably happen because I'm around more and therefore more likely to get annoyed if they aren't clean).

Also means if people call in over the Christmas I'm not totally embarrassed at the state of the place.

EponasWildDaughter · 21/12/2015 12:04

cheap - i have 7 adults plus DD4 for most sunday lunches but the thought of 2 extra for xmas day this year has tipped me over the edge it seems Grin

HeadDreamer · 21/12/2015 12:04

I once heard Anthea Turner grin describe it as 'Sunday lunch with a cracker'. Add a few presents and I'd agree.

That's me Grin.

ghostspirit · 21/12/2015 12:05

when i get of my butt we are going to have a cleaning afternoon/evening. its only me and the kids but i want it to feel nice and clean. then on xmas eve we will have another clean up. and get rid of all the broken toys etc.

OnlyLovers · 21/12/2015 12:06

OP, I agree. I like to make sure the sofas look nice and have plenty of cushions and blankets, and that there's lots of room at the kitchen table for everyone and the food, but apart from that it wouldn't occur to me to clean and tidy like a madwoman before guests arrive (and making sure there's clean linen for overnight guests, obviously).

I've seen a lot of Xmas angst on here too. I've kind of said this on another thread, but what pisses me off even more is that it seems to be largely women who get in a tizz and work their fingers to the bone to cook/clean/prep for it. I have to wonder what all the men are doing.

Kelsoooo · 21/12/2015 12:08

Hmmm I clean frantically before because the inevitable mess stresses me out no end. And I don't want to ruin the kids Christmas by me getting stressed because it's a bit messy.

This year the PIL are here from Xmas eve to Boxing Day, but I don't do additional because they're coming.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 21/12/2015 12:08

So glad my Christmas is not "Sunday lunch with a cracker".

BalloonSlayer · 21/12/2015 12:09

Yes I often think this about Christmas dinner - it's just normal Sunday lunch with crackers, sprouts and sausages added. Oh yeah and a pudding. But then I don't have loads of extra guests and their "but it won't be Christmas without blahdeblah" requirements to accommodate, and I reckon that makes a HUGE difference.

MrsJayy · 21/12/2015 12:09

Yeah right Anthea will be ironing her napkins and basting her turkey at the same time i used to watch her cleaning domestic goddess programme with my mouth opened the woman was obsessed

SheGotAllDaMoves · 21/12/2015 12:09

First, it's plain that far too many men are not pulling their weight.

Despite expecting to give and receive gifts, eat food and receive guests, they do sweet FA.

No wonder women complain ( I could not be having that).

Second, people set far too many expectations. They want x,y and z which all take up too much time.

Third, they like to moan.

Dipankrispaneven · 21/12/2015 12:10

What always puzzles me is all the people staggering round supermarkets with trolleys piled high, stocking up as if they were expecting several months' siege. Round where I am, the shops only close for one day, it's not as if you're in serious danger of running out of food, and in our house the leftovers take care of catering on Boxing Day anyway. I get it that some people will be entertaining so need to buy in more, but by the same token that means there are an awful lot being entertained who can presumably buy in less.

OnlyLovers · 21/12/2015 12:10

Better than everyone else's, is it, Tinkly? Good for you.

Tinseleverywhere · 21/12/2015 12:12

Yy mrsjayy I bet Anthea makes her own crackers as well.

MrsJayy · 21/12/2015 12:14

Tbf nobody wants to be food shopping boxing day or whenever so doing a big shop plus a turkey and booze shop is normal ime

hesterton · 21/12/2015 12:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.